Committee adopts amendment to provide federal maternal-health funds and advances substitute House Bill 730

The committee adopted amendment 2077-4 to provide legislative appropriation authority for recently enacted federal maternal-health transformation funds and then favorably reported substitute House Bill 730 to the committee on rules and reference.

Chair Cerino said Congress and the President recently enacted a federal maternal-health transformation program (the transcript refers to it as the "bridal health transformation program") and that Ohio was awarded $202,000,000 for fiscal 2026 and $404,000,000 for the first two years of the program; the amendment supplies the General Assembly's authority to appropriate those federal dollars. "This amendment is the General Assembly's appropriation authority for those dollars," the chair said, adding that 100% of the funds are federal and that the program begins in fiscal 2026.

The amendment details allocations the chair described on the committee floor: at least $30,000,000 in each fiscal year through competitive awards for specified maternal-health outcomes; $42,000,000 over two years for school-based health centers; $33,000,000 over two years for Healthier Ohio initiatives to prevent disease; and $50,000,000 over two years for an Ohio C initiative. "I feel this amendment is a very important addition to the bill," the chair said when urging support.

An objection to the amendment prompted a roll call. The clerk announced members' responses, recording multiple "Yes" votes and one "No" from Senator Roman Chuck; the chair declared the amendment adopted after determining there were sufficient votes.

Before the committee moved on, Ranking Member Hicks Hudson raised procedural questions about implementation and eligibility. "Do we know how these funds will be spent and are they going to be in keeping with what the Department of Health has created in terms of their RFP that's already been awarded?" Hicks Hudson asked. The chair responded that awards will be made through an application process administered by the Department of Health and that the department will determine whether applicants qualify and how much will be appropriated. He added that federal guidance prevents funding "bricks and mortar" and that some details will be finalized by the department.

When asked whether the appropriation would support projects already awarded under earlier Department of Health initiatives, the chair said the funds are intended for future activities and applicants will apply under the program's processes. He characterized the legislative intent as favoring rural hospitals to address maternity-unit closures in rural areas, saying the appropriation aims to help reconstitute or expand maternity services so patients do not have to travel long distances for urgent care.

Senator Ingram asked whether the appropriation overlapped with existing Appalachian set-asides; the chair said the funds originated in federal allocations and were proposed by the senate in negotiation with the house, and that distribution specifics were determined through the legislative process. Senator Romichuk pressed on language removing earlier, more prescriptive criteria; the chair said prior draft language was confusing, that the house had previously identified 13 hospitals, and that the committee chose broader statutory language with appropriations to be released by the controlling board.

Vice Chair Chavez then moved to favorably report substitute House Bill 730 to the committee on rules and reference. After another roll call, the chair declared the bill favorably reported to rules and reference. The chair also moved, without objection, to grant the Legislative Service Commission authority to harmonize amendments as needed for the bill. With no further business, the committee adjourned.

The committee's actions: amendment 2077-4 was adopted; substitute House Bill 730 was favorably reported to the committee on rules and reference; LSC was authorized to harmonize amendments. Questions remain on the record about the exact criteria the Department of Health will use to select grantees and whether the funds will overlap with other regional set-asides; the transcript records members requesting clarity and assurances that the department will implement the program consistent with legislative intent to prioritize rural hospital capacity.